Page 79 of Pieces into Place
Opening up the lunchbox Mason used to keep her milk cool in, Isla noticed there were several bottles already in there. Mason added the two new ones, which filled up the box. Isla wondered why she’d broughtmilk to the hospital since Silas wasn’t with her. She must have read Isla’s mind, because Mason turned toward her as she answered.
“I thought Blake and Alexis might need some milk for the baby. I’m producing more than Silas needs right now, so I wanted to help if I could. I don’t know if they would want it or not, but…”
“I’m sure they will be more than grateful for it.” Isla put her arm around Mason’s neck and kissed her cheek. “That is so thoughtful of you, honey.”
Mason picked up Isla’s arm and looked at her watch, sighing.
“It’s been almost an hour.”
“Why was it not okay formeto look, butyoucan lookandcomplain?”
“Because I’m your baby girl.” Mason put her arms around Isla’s waist, resting her head on her chest. “They’re okay.”
“I know.” Isla nodded her head. “I know they are. I just need Mama to tell me that.”
Isla looked toward the door where she hoped Vera or Avery or Alexis or Melanie oranyonewould come through at any moment and give them an update. She knew from years of Vera being a doctor that cesareans could take anywhere from a few minutes in an emergency to an hour or more if there were complications. Her mind wanted to jump to the worst-case scenario, but Isla wouldn’t let it. Instead, she reminded herself that they would probably stitch Blake up and get her into recovery before Vera would leave her side.
She couldn’t blame Vera there. Isla wouldn’t leave Blake’s side, either. Not after everything their daughter had been through today. Her heart desperately needed to see Blake again to know she was okay. To know Avery had made the right decision to do a major surgery on her daughter.
Finally, the automatic doors opened and Isla locked eyes with Vera. She was dressed in scrubs and had tears in her eyes, but the smile on her face told Isla everything she needed to know. Isla jumped up from the chair, sprinting across the waiting room to her wife. They collapsed into each other’s arms to the point Isla wasn’t sure which one was holding the other up more. Slowly, they sank to their knees with their arms still locked around each other.
“They’re okay?” Isla asked.
“They’re okay.” Vera nodded her head. She framed Isla’s face with her hands as she looked into her eyes. “They’re both okay. You have a beautiful new granddaughter. She weighs seven pounds, eight ounces, and is twenty-two inches long. She looks like Harper, and Blake and Alexis are madly in love.”
Isla let out a sob as she noticed Mason was on her knees beside her. She had one hand on Isla’s back and the other on Vera’s arm.
“How’s Blake?”
“She’s good. She did amazing, honey. You should be so proud of her.”
“I am,” she happily laughed. “So proud.”
“Me too. The surgery went great. Avery was in and out with no complications.” Vera paused for a moment, and Isla braced herself for abut. “The baby’s cord was around her neck.”
Isla didn’t have time to react or ask questions before Vera continued.
“It happens sometimes, but it wasn’t hurting her. But that was why she wasn’t handling the contractions well. The cord would tighten with each contraction, which was causing her distress. Avery one hundred percent made the right call to do a cesarean.”
“Good.” Isla took hold of Vera’s hands and squeezed them. “I’m so glad they’re both okay. How’s Alexis?”
“She’s good. So in love with Blake and the baby. I can’t imagine my wife going through that, but she never let go of Blake’s hand.”
“I love her.”
“She’s the best.”
Isla lifted her hand to Vera’s cheek, using her thumb to wipe away a tear. “How are you?”
She watched as Vera’s shoulders dropped slightly, and Isla knew exactly what she needed. Standing, Isla pulled Vera to her feet as they embraced in a long hug. Isla held Vera close for a few moments as she let her process her emotions. Mason never took her hand off Vera’s back as they gave her the safe space she needed.
“I was so scared, Isla.” Vera looked into her eyes as Isla kept her arms around her. “We’ve never had a kid in surgery like that before. And I’ve never been on that side of the curtain before. Not in the way I was tonight, at least. I got to hold Blake while they put her epidural in and I held her hand during the surgery. I talked her and Alexis through what was happening and watched our granddaughter be born. And I got to hold her and hand her to Blake.”
“Oh, honey.” Isla pressed their foreheads together. “I’m so glad you were there for her. Blake needed you there.Ineeded you there.”
Vera reached into the pocket of her scrub top and pulled out a phone. Isla knew from the background photo it was Melanie’s phone.
“Mel took some pictures.”
